5 Tips for Building Your Email List

In my last post we covered the best practices for crafting the perfect email. Now, who the heck do you send it to? Depending on your business, you might have email addresses for all of your customers, which is a great starting point. However, not everyone collects email addresses, and some businesses starting from scratch have to build an email list from scratch.

According to a report from Constant Contact in 2012, businesses receive $40 for every $1 spent on email marketing. $40 for $1! Who wouldn’t invest that $1? Email is an incredible tool for growing your business, so it’s vital to get started on building your list today.

Here are 5 tips to help you create a quality email list that ultimately will help you grow your business.

1. Encourage In-Store Signups

There’s a reason that in 2014, a lot of small businesses still have a sign-up sheet or jar to collect business cards at the register: It still works. Don’t believe me? Look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself if you have ever dropped your card in a fishbowl to win a free lunch before. If you haven’t, then you’re a better man than I am. The key to in-store signups is to include a special offer or discount to incentivize people to give their email address.

2. Share Signup Info on Print Collateral

If people are leaving you business with something, even if it’s just a receipt, then you have an opportunity to get subscribers. Simply throw a postcard in each bag with instructions on how to subscribe to your email list and the benefits from doing so. Also be sure to include the same details on every printed document you give customers, such as receipts or appointment reminder cards. Start looking at every customer touchpoint as an opportunity to convert them into subscribers.

3. Include a Signup Form on Your Website

This may be the most obvious tip, but it’s one that a lot of business surprisingly aren’t doing: Feature a sign-up form on your website. People don’t often provide their email for free, so be sure to include an incentive for signing up; for example, you might offer new subscribers 10% off their next appointment. Also, nobody likes filling out forms, so the shorter the form the better! Only collect absolutely necessary information—name and email are usually fine.

4. Drive Signups on Social

Listen to Ariel! Go to where your customers or prospects are: social networks. Post an update telling your fans on Facebook or followers on Twitter about your mailing list. Make sure to include a link to your signup form, and as always, incentivize people to join. You can also target followers on Pinterest or Instagram by posting a compelling image with a call to action to subscribe to your mailing list.

5. Link to Your Signup Form from Your Email Signatures

Use email to drive email signups! Be sure that you and all of your employees include a link on their email signature to your email signup form. This is a great and easy way to get new and current customers to join your list.

The Bottom Line

These 5 tips should put you on the road to growing a massive email list in no time. As I mentioned repeatedly, the key is to incentivize people to give you their email address. So get creative, get started today, and if you’re offering a free lunch as the incentive, count me in!

About the Author

John Rigo is a content marketer with Booker. His areas of expertise are writing and market research. John brings a unique perspective to the blogosphere with his extensive background in publishing. He also has a love for small and local businesses – how they work, how they grow, and why they succeed.